Assiornob to detroit mechanical



J. P. LAVIGNE.

STEERING GEAR. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 26. 1917. RNEWED MAR. I0. 1919. 1,319,294. Patented 001. 21,1919.

T1115 COLUMBIA PLANm-.nfwu vf' WASH Nr. o. n. c.

nNrTED sTATEsPATENr orrioii.

JOSEPH P. LAVIGNE, 0F DETROIT, VMICHIGAN, ASSIG-N'OR TO DETROIT 'MECHANICAL 'I ENGINEERING COMPANY, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, .A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN. K

YSTEERIN'C11-- GEAR.

seeeieetien of Letters Patent. Patented 0011121, 1919,

applicati@ :nea January 2e, 1917, serial No. 144,623. Renewed Meren 1o, 191e. sel-rei No. 231,792.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, Josnrnpl?. Laviana, a citizen of the UnitedStates of America, residing at Detroit,"in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steering-Gears, of which the following is a speciiication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings. Y

In the operation of steering gears for automobiles or the like and more particularly for' those used for heavy service such as trucks and tractors, it is desirable not only that the device be self locking to avoid turning save under the manipulation of the operator, but also that it be arranged to avoid internal end thrusts which are likely to be extremely great in such mechanism with the consequent loss of power through friction and the ever present liability to injury.

This invention relates to a steering gear for automobiles or the like and to an arrangement thereof whereby `the device is not only self locking, but whereby the end thrust is avoided.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a view, partially in longitudinal section and partially in elevation, of the mechanism of a steering device that embodies features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in transverse section thereof taken on line II-II of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a view in transverse section thereof taken on or about line III--III of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, a casingformed of oppositely disposed sections 1 secured together as by studs 2 or other suitable means, carry bushings V3 in the cylindrical sleeved ends thereof. A driving member 4e is journaled in the upper bushing 3, a shoulder 5 being formed thereon to prevent displacement, but not being arranged as a heavy thrust bearing. A double or diamond screw as indicated at 6, is formed on the inner portion of the shaft 4e and is engaged by correspondingly internally threaded sectors 7 having extensions 8 that enter into guide grooves formed by flanges 9 of the sections 1 and thus are prevented from rotation inl the casing. I

The sectors 7 are so arranged that rotation. of the shaft 4; in one direction shifts one segmeint'` toward and the otheraway from bushing 3, and vice versa.

A'follower shaft 10v is journaled in the lower bushing '3 with a slight shoulder 11 formed thereon to prevent accidental displacement in thebushing. l Theupper reduced end portion 12 of this shaft is stepped in the suitably arranged end portion of the drive Ashaft 4f. 4 Y. 4 f

A double or diamond` worm thread suchv as indica-ted at 13 is formed on the inner portion of the shaft 10 and is engaged by a i couple of correspondingly internallythreaded segments 14, the upper end portions 1 5- of which are screwthreaded on to the sector 7, the extensions 8 being held by the engagement thereof in the hollow flanges 9, thus preventing rotation in the casing 1.

The angle of effectiveness yof the screw threads of the power shaft is such that von rotation of thelatter the sectors 7 move in opposite direction. The angle of efficiency of the worm threads on the driven shaft is such that the consequent longitudinal movement of the segments 14 thereon rotates the power shaft. This motion is transmitted as by the arm 16 or like means tothe steering `arm of the wheel.

One result of this arrangement is that there is no end thrust lin the device itself, thethrust of the sectors in one direction being obviated by the reverse thrust of the companion sectors. Because of thev worm thread the device is locked against rotation save by turning the power shaft.

Obviously, changes in the details of'construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and I do not care to limit myself to any particular form or arrangement of parts.

What I claim is p 1. In a steering gear, a power shaft having a diamend-screwthreaded-portion, a follower shaftV having a diamond-threaded-worm alined therewith, and vmeans reciprocating simultaneously in opposite directions longitudinally on the shaft by the rotation of the screwthreaded portion which they engage and acting inunison on the worm to turn the follower shaft.

2. `In a steering gear, a power shaft having a diamond screw threaded-portion, a follower shaft having a diamond-threadedworm alined therewith, means reciprocating shaft having a diamond f threaded woriny alined therewith, oppoeitely disposed sectors gripping the serewthreaded portion vof the power shaft between them and moving in opposite directions when the shaft is rotated, segments each seouredlto a sector andlen gaged by thefworm, anda casing housingv the segments` and Sectors and maintaining vthem fromy rotation -inrela-tion to the shaft.

t. In aiSteeri-ng gear7 a-easing, a power shaft having a'diarnond-sorewthreaded-portion, a follower shaft-having a diamondthreaded-worm in alineinent with the power shaft', and means longitudinally reoiprocable and non-rotatableV inathe easing engaging the Gopiepofthis,patentamaygbe `obtained for velcents each, by'addressng the Commissioner of Patents.

sorewthreaded portion to' travel in opposite directions on the power shaft and engaging the worm to rotate the follower shaft. Y

5. In a steering gear, Va casing formed .of opposed sections and provided with longitu dinal gnideways, a bushing near eaeh end portion of the casing, a power shaft jour naled in one bushing, a diamond-threaded portion thereof lying in the easing, a fol- 'lower shaft joui'naled'inthe other `bushing with a diamondthreaded worm thereon within the casing, oppositely moving sectors engaging the sorewthreads and reoiproeatino inl the easing guideways, .and segments eac 1 connected to a sector and engaged in the worm and the easing gnideways.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH P. LAVIGNE. Witnesses:

ANNA M. Donn,y GHAS. W. STAUFFIGER.

Washington, 11.1 C." 

